The Flour Bluff Business Association would like you to join us on Friday, December 8, 2017, in welcoming Santa and his elves to Funtrackers Family Fun Center located at 9605 S. Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78418. Santa is scheduled to arrive at 6:00 p.m., and he is coming with gifts! Every kid will get a chance to meet Santa for a picture and a present. We will have entertainment throughout the evening including a Cake Walk sponsored by the Children’s Center, face painting, a community sing-along, and much more!

A junior elf speaks with the little children as they wait in the line, to see Santa, 2016 (SevenTwelve Photography photo)

“We love this community where we live, and we want to give back by giving to the children who are here. We are so happy to announce that HEB Plus will be donating $1500 toward the purchase of toys for the kids. We hope all business owners will consider setting out a toy box at your place of business to collect toys for the kids or will join us on the 8th to help with the event,” said FBBA President Jennifer Welp.

Since the announcement, others have donated to the toy drive. Grace Community Church gave $1000. County Commissioner Brent Chesney made a personal donation of $500, and Commissioner Mike Pusley donated $250. Funtrackers is not only co-hosting the event, but they are donating lots of toys for the little ones.

Braving the cold for time with Santa, 2016 (SevenTwelve Photography)

For anyone who would like to make a toy donation, FBBA toy boxes are located at Colonia del Rey on Waldron Road, Edward Jones on Waldron next to Papa Murphy’s, the Children’s Center on SPID, Navy/Army at SPID and Flour Bluff Drive, Maybelle’s Market at Turtle Cove Shopping Center, and Funtrackers on Flour Bluff Drive. The FBBA wants to thank all who have generously given time, talent, or donations to make this fun-filled, community event possible.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

As I dig through old news clippings from the Flour Bluff Sun to research our local history, I am reminded of how much I loved that little paper. Marie Speer, owner and publisher, gave us something to anticipate every Friday. Whose picture would make the cover? What tidbit of Flour Bluff history would she include? Who made the all-star team? What community events were coming up? What new business opened in the Bluff? Who was born or married? Who died? What battle would surface in the letters to the editor? Not until Marie’s staff rolled each paper, bound it with a rubber band, and tossed it onto the lawn would these questions be answered. When we lost the Flour Bluff Sun, we not only lost the news of the day, we lost a print record of our community’s history. I am still in search of past editions of the Sun and of an earlier newspaper called The Flour Bluff Reporter, which was owned and published by Bill Smith.

Flour Bluff Sun, published by Marie Speer beginning in 1976

Jeff Craft, owner and publisher of the Flour Bluff Messenger, tried to revive the old spirit of truly local news, but sadly he had to give it up. I am grateful for his efforts and for the opportunity to submit articles to it. I am especially grateful to have hard copies in hand. There is nothing like sipping a cup of coffee while reading a real hometown newspaper on real newsprint. This is always done with a pair of scissors nearby in case I need to clip something out of the paper, articles or pictures that I will post on the fridge, share with a friend or family member, or tuck away in a box or book for safekeeping. Maybe one day one of my great grandchildren will stumble across a news article I saved about his mom or dad or the community in which they lived. Yes, print newspapers are not a thing of the past; they are evidence of the past.

Jeff Craft’s publication kept the Flour Bluff informed for two years.

Once again, residents of Flour Bluff, Padre Island, NAS-CC, and parts of South Side will have the chance to keep a piece of history for future generations. Ron Henne, who owns and publishes The Saltwater Angler Magazine, and a few of his friends have taken on the task of creating a print newspaper for the folks in our community, one that merges the old with the new but highlights what matters to all of us. The first edition will be available December 1, 2017. I have done a little writing and editing for this new publication, too, and I pray it will make it because I really miss having a hometown newspaper.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

When a citizen of Corpus Christi is asked about nagging problems in the city, it is almost guaranteed that street maintenance will come up. They hold the Street Operations Department to its mission, which states it is “to manage, maintain, and develop the City’s street system. This is accomplished by maintaining street pavement; operating and maintaining traffic signals, signs and markings; and planning and developing the street system.” At least it is clear that the City is responsible for upkeep of city thoroughfares. However, in 1898, just 52 years after the incorporation of Corpus Christi, the mayor and city council were at odds about whether or not the city should take an active role in tending to the streets.

The following article from the January 28, 1959, Corpus Christi Caller-Times relates the kinds of issues facing the Mayor Oscar C. Lovenskiold and the City Council of 1898.

“In 1898 dust was a serious problem in a Corpus Christi that had no pavements. In May a special meeting of the City Council was called to devise ways and means of sprinkling streets.

“Captain C. C. Heath of the Board of Trade, fore-runner of the Chamber of Commerce, advocated street sprinkling. The water company agreed to furnish the water free. Citizens offered to provide a sprinkling wagon if the city would permit its two horses to be used and provide a driver. An ordinance was passed putting this arrangement into effect. But the mayor vetoed the ordinance.

“He raised many objections. He said street sprinkling was not one of the purposes for which the city was chartered; that it would be unfair because all streets could not be sprinkled equally; that the city couldn’t afford street sprinkling; and that it was an unnecessary luxury.

“The city council passed the ordinance over the mayor’s veto.”

It seems that our problem is not a new one, nor is it one that city councils of the past and present have failed to discuss. If we couldn’t get it under control in the early days when only a few dirt roads existed…

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

On Saturday, October 28, 2017, over 1200 people showed up at Parker Memorial Park between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m. to take part in the family fun at Flour Fest, a community event put on by the Flour Bluff Business Association and sponsored by County Commissioners Brent Chesney and Mike Pusley, Michael Morgan of State Farm, Javier Wiley of HEB, Roshan Bhakta of Candlewood Suites Flour Bluff/NAS, and Dr. Mohamed Hassan of Children’s Center Flour Bluff. The award-winning, nationally renowned Flour Bluff NJROTC Color Guard provided cadets for the opening ceremonies, parking detail, and clean-up detail as part of their service duties. The Pct. 2 Constable’s office provided security for the event through its reserve officers along with several Corpus Christi Police Department officers.

The event featured:

Live music by Michael Burtts, Jimmy Spacek, Cathouse, and Timeline Journey Tribute Band;

Dance show by FBHS Stingline;

Raffle for a Yeti cooler, which was won by Luis Diaz; all proceeds go to FBBA Scholarships for FBISD students;

Singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Dr. Tom Hollingsworth;

Kids Zone fun sponsored by the Flour Bluff Citizens Council, including sack races, three-legged races, egg in spoon races, corn hole, and 4-way tug o’ war; volunteers for this event included the Pastor Brandon Cunningham and the Youth Group of Grace Community Church;Pastry Wars Pie-eating Contest sponsored by Walmart #490, Cliff Zarbock of Premier Realty, and John and Lisa Nicholson of Barton Street Pub; Cliff and John are Flour Bluff graduates; volunteers for this event included Hannah Chipman of Brent Chesney’s office and Jeff Rank, local attorney and Flour Bluff graduate; Bounce House by Space Walk of Corpus Christi;

Fur Fest Kid-and-Dog Costume Contest sponsored by Flour Bluff Citizens Council and Robert and Shirley Thornton of Thornton Rental Properties; volunteers for this event were local attorney Mark Stolley, Flour Bluff graduate and local attorney running for Judge of the 148th District Court;

Fire safety demonstrations by Chief Dale Scott and firemen from Nueces County ESD#2;

Flour Fest 2017 was the brainchild of Jonathan Vela, FBBA Event Coordinator and owner of Dani’s Lock and Key. “The first annual Flour Fest wasn’t my idea,” said Vela. “I wasn’t completely happy with it, so I asked to lead the second one. That being said I also helped plan the first one. I don’t think we could’ve done anything different for the time and budget we had. I just thought we rushed it. I started planning 10 months prior to 2nd Annual Flour Fest.”

Vela envisioned something different when he thought of Flour Fest. “Our first annual Flour Fest was at Funtrackers. I enjoyed the event, but I wasn’t happy with the location and other things tied to the location. When I think festival, I don’t picture arcades and go karts. I picture what it was this year, open air, stage in a field, trees, and open grass areas.” Another FBBA board member suggested Parker Park, a decision Vela liked.

Planning the event started 10 months before it came to be. “I feel the hardest part was the weeks leading into the event making sure everything was in place,” said Vela. “Seeing all our hard work pay off, seeing all the people have an amazing time, seeing something we worked so hard on come together,” Vela added in response to what he liked best about the event. “All the bands this year were amazing, and I wouldn’t mind bringing them back every year. Next year I would even like to hire a national touring band to close out the night.” He also said he would like to see the event go two hours longer next year.

Live music by Timeline Journey Tribute Ban at Flour Fest 2017 (Photo by Jonathan Vela)

When asked what he sees for the future of Flour Fest, Vela said, “In 10 years, I see this turning into 2 to 3 day event with multiple stages showcasing all different genres of music that our community and city enjoy. I see Parker Park filled with thousands of people at a time. I hope I am around to see it happen.”

The FBBA would also like to thank Little Caesar’s, Dominoes, and Funtrackers for donations of coupons or food for the event and to all the vendors and community organizations that provided fun, candy, and prizes for the children. They especially want to thank all who came to the festival and partook in the fun and helped make the event worthwhile for everyone.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

As I dig through old records, faded news clippings, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and assorted secondary sources in search of any Flour Bluff history I can find, I sometimes stumble across odds and ends that evoke laughter, gasp, or shake my head. I thought I’d share some of these little gems with all of you who love Flour Bluff.

John V. Singer, brother to Isaac Merrit Singer who developed the sewing machine by the same name, lived with his wife and seven Texas-born children on Padre Island. He arrived in 1847, bought the old Santa Cruz Ranch from the Padre Jose’ Nicolas Balli’ estate. When the Civil War broke out in 1865, the Singers were ordered to leave the island because of their Union sympathies. They buried their collected treasure and lived for a time in Flour Bluff. They did not, however, stay long enough to be considered the first true settlers of Flour Bluff. That honor seems to go to the Hugo Ritter family arriving in 1890 and starting the first school in 1892. (That makes Flour Bluff School 125 years old!)

On Wednesday, April 27, 1864, the Quad-City Times, a newspaper in Davenport, Iowa, ran a story by a man who, under the command of Captains Gray and Doolittle of the 20th Union Regiment, had landed on “Flour Bluffs, a point on the western side of the bay, and 12 miles distant from the town of Corpus Christi. He describes what he saw on the night march: “For the first three or four miles our road took us over succession of sand hills which were unrelieved by any green thing, except an occasional clump of cactus. Leaving this barren waste, we crossed a tract of land still sandy, but covered with dwarf oaks that never grow more than three feet high, are very thick and difficult to walk through.” (This sounds just like the brush I played in as a child!)

On Sunday, July 23, 1882, The Galveston Daily News ran a piece on the Kenedy Pasture. The reporter wrote of how he saw six schooners off Flour Bluff Point loaded with fence posts for the ranch and described the Laguna Madre on that day: “On the morning of the 5th, we hoisted sail and for three days we did not make more than three miles. There was only about eighteen inches of water on the flats for a distance of six miles.” He went on to report what it was like to wade through the shallow waters: “These flats, from Flour Bluff south for about sixteen miles, are covered with a thick coat of grass that grows under the water. In many places it is ten to fifteen inches long and feels under foot as soft as velvet. This grass, when torn out by the boats dragging over it, will sink to the bottom and there remain until it dies; then it will rise and float on the water until carried ashore, where it emits a very disagreeable odor–fully as offensive as that that arises from a slaughter-pen. It is not considered unhealthy by the citizens along the coast. These grass flats are a great feeding place for fish.” (Ah, the smell you’ll never forget!)

Laguna Madre (Photo by SevenTwelve Photography)

On Monday, March 19, 1894, The Brownsville Herald, reported that Sea Island cotton could be ginned by the ordinary cotton gin, and that Mr. H. H. Page planted only a small patch of it at Flour Bluff as an experiment. It yielded well, producing about 500 pounds from his crop. (I have tried to grow a great many things in this Flour Bluff sand, but never did I ever consider growing cotton!)

Evidently the Flour Bluff residents were very patriotic in 1896 and loved a good celebration, one that could have included the Ritter, Johnson, Roscher, Jeletich, Self, Graham, Roper, Stevens, and Watson families, if indeed they had settled in the area by then. According to The Galveston Daily News, “The residents of the Flour Bluff neighborhood are making arrangements for a big barbecue to be given on the Fourth of July,” (I wouldn’t mind seeing this happen again, perhaps at Parker Memorial Park where Flour Fest was held last weekend!)

On July 4, 1896, The Galveston Daily News ran an article out of Corpus Christi about “the immense vineyard at Flour Bluff.” The Laguna Madre Horticultural Association “has attached widespread attention in this section, owing to its immense yield of grapes, and additional large sums of money would willingly be invested in the grape industry in that section if a more convenient means were afforded of getting the produce to market.” This “more convenient means” meant the building of a road from Aberdeen to Flour Bluff “a distance of about ten miles, at a cost of $15,000.” (Gee, if we could only build a road in Flour Bluff for that price today!)

In a January 15, 1899, a Houston Post correspondent learned “from a resident of the Flour Bluff neighborhood that a drove of about twenty wild javelinas attacked the house of Mr. C. L. Barnes of that neighborhood a couple of days since. Mr. Barnes was absent from home at the time and the family seeing the brutes entering the yard, closed the house none too soon. The watch dog, which was tied to a tree outside, was vanquished by the javelinas and badly ‘knocked out.’ The animals remained on the premises about an hour, when they disappeared in the chaparral and no trace has since been seen of them.” (I saw their cousins just last week on my walk to the Oso by the water tower!)

In 1903, The Brownsville Herald reported on a pineapple farm in Flour Bluff owned by George G. Clough, an experiment that “should prove the success confidently anticipated.” The Herald also reported on a suit brought against the federal government by a Mrs. Shaw for “damages for property taken by the federal troops during the Civil War, about forty years ago; the troops, it is claimed, taking down and carrying away to Flour Bluff a five-room house on the beach belonging to Mrs. Shaw.” (Trying to grow something in this sand and the first of many battles between Flour Bluff residents and the government over personal property? It sounds as if not much has changed.)

Photo courtesy of Carnivoraforum.com

On Friday, July 10, 1908, The Houston Post reported on yet another javelina attack in Flour Bluff. It seems that John Finnegan, M. M. Dodson, and a party of eight friends “were hunting in a thicket near the mud bridge in the vicinity of Flour Bluff.” They evidently came upon “a veritable nest containing about 500 javelinas (wild hogs) which took after them. All the hunters emptied both barrels of their guns into the bunch of javelinas, which seemed to come from every direction, and killed about fifteen of the animals, and they made for the hunters, who fled to the nearest trees.” Then, as the story was told, Mr. Finnegan crawled up a mesquite tree, dragging his gun after him. The weapon was discharged, “tearing the thumb and part of the wrist of his left hand almost off, while twenty-eight of the shot lodged in the left side of his face.” They had encountered and killed a Mexican lion the morning before. The reporter ended the story with “It seems that wild game is plentiful in the vicinity of Flour Bluff.” (We still see all kinds of wildlife on the Encinal Peninsula. The coyotes have really been singing lately!)

The San Antonio Gazette ran an ad on October 17, 1908, for “The Real Estate Man” (aka Frank Allen) who was selling 20 to 40-acre tracts of land “down at Flour Bluff” stating “It is the most suitable and advantageously located land in the United States for the culture of citrus fruits and it is the earth for oranges, lemons, onion, cabbage, potatoes, cucumbers, beans, melons, and other vegetables. Fine fishing and hunting and an ideal place for a home.” (Flour Bluff is still an ideal place for a home.)

Bingham’s Drug Store on People’s Street

To end this little post on Halloween night, I’ll leave you with a rather gruesome story printed in The Houston Post on February 12, 1909. “While walking along the beach near Flour Bluff, on the southern shores of Corpus Christi Bay last Sunday, O. K. Haas, a well-known farmer, saw something peculiar protruding from the ground near the water’s edge, and on investigation found it was the head of a human skeleton. He attempted to pick the head up, and in doing so discovered that the entire skeleton was there. The head part was solid, with the exception of a crack in the skull; the lower part of the face was covered with barnacles and the teeth were as good as though the man had died the day before. The entire skeleton was in a fine state of preservation. The head and some of the bones were brought to this city and are now on exhibition at the Bingham drug store. Some believe that the skeleton is that of a man who was killed many years ago on the bay shore (judging from the cracked skull) and has been where it fell all these years. Others believe the man died on the beach. When found, the left hand was grown to the breast bone.”

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

Corpus Christi, Texas- The past and the present will collide at the Voices of South Texas event that kicks off on Friday, November 3, 2017 at Heritage Park.

The event festivities will kick off at 6:00 p.m. at Heritage Park (1581 N. Chaparral St.) Friday, November 3, 2017, with a special guest appearance by Corpus Christi native and actor Lou Diamond Phillips. Phillips is best known for his role of Ritchie Valens in the drama film La Bamba and his role in the Academy-Award nominated movie Stand and Deliver.

Lou Diamond Phillips, graduate of Flour Bluff High School and renowned film star (Photo courtesy of Creative Commons)

Over 30 storytellers, re-enactors and experts on local history will tell the story of many who were laid to rest at Old Bayview Cemetery. The cemetery will feature walking tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017. The walking tours chronicle the history of the region. The cemetery includes veterans from the War of 1812 through the Spanish American War.

“The Voices of South Texas events are an excellent way for us to celebrate our history here in Corpus Christi,” said Jay Ellington, Director of the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department. “I hope our community and visitors alike will take advantage of this wonderful celebration of our past.”

Old Bayview Cemetery was created by Colonel Hitchcock during the occupation of Zachary Taylor’s forces in 1845 and the first U.S. military cemetery in Texas. It is located at Ramirez Street and Padre (IH-37) next to Coles High School.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

La Retama Library will showcase lectures from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, where guest lecturers will provide a history of the Coastal Bend.

Voices of South Texas is sponsored by Humanities Texas, Friends of Old Bayview Cemetery, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department, Corpus Christi Public Libraries, and the City of Corpus Christi. Humanities Texas is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

On October 16, 2017, members of the Flour Bluff Citizens Council were joined by city, county, and state elected officials and city staff to hear a presentation on homelessness in Corpus Christi and Flour Bluff. Melanie Hambrick, a Flour Bluff resident who has served on the city’s Advisory Council for Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse, Kae Berry of Timon’s Ministries, and CCPD Chief Mark Schauer helped to educate the residents in the audience at the regular general meeting held at Grace Community Church on Flour Bluff Drive.

Hambrick began her part of the presentation with a definition of homeless. “Though many definitions exist, for our purposes we will define homeless as chronic, those who have been continuously homeless for one year; transitional, individuals who have experienced a single episode of homelessness lasting an average of one to two months; and episodic, an individual with three or more episodes within the last year rendering him homeless,” she said. Hambrick said that research indicates the primary reasons for homelessness to be addiction, poverty, lack of housing, lack of affordable health care, domestic violence, and mental health issues among others. “The number of homeless changes daily, and finding these individuals to talk to them about their personal experiences is challenging and therefore cannot be accurate,” stated Hambrick.

Data based on the 2017 Point-in-Time Survey of 611 individuals in Corpus Christi. This annual survey is required by the U.S. Dep’t. of Housing and Urban Development.

“There are lots of factors that contribute to chronic homelessness. When people are released from public institutio or public systems without adequate discharge planning, they are more likely to become homeless,” said Hambrick. “Adequate discharge planning is a crucial element to the long-term success of these individuals. Reasons given include release from correctional institutions, release from hospitals, release from mental institutions, children aging out of foster care, and migration for jobs.” Hambrick added that Corpus Christi becomes a destination for the homeless because of the mild winters and places that lend themselves to living outside, such as bridges, brushy areas, and beaches.

“All of this does come with a cost to the taxpayer,” said Hambrick. Though she did not have exact data for Corpus Christi, Hambrick gave the national average, which is estimated between $30 and $40 thousand per individual annually. “This cost is absorbed by many. For example, the cost for processing and holding of individuals in correctional institutions, hospitals that do not refuse those who seek medical attention, and court-appointed attorneys who represent those who have been arrested, to name a few.” This does not include the cost to clean up homeless camps in public spaces and parks, which would be absorbed by the Solid Waste Department or the Parks and Recreation Department.

Hambrick provided data on what services are available for the homeless in Corpus Christi:

Kae Berry of Timon’s Ministries told the group that Timon’s was incorporated in 1999 and opened for business in 2000. “I started there as a volunteer serving food,” she said. “A year later I became the director, and I’m still there.” Berry explained that it really began back in the eighties at St. Peter’s by the Sea UMC on Waldron Road as a shelter for the homeless. “They were feeding the homeless who camped near there out the back door of the church. It grew and grew and grew. Then, other churches got involved, and they formed Timon’s. When it first opened, we were really feeding only homeless people,” Berry said. “Because of the development of the Flour Bluff area, the number of homeless in Flour Bluff has diminished significantly. Currently, only about 5% of the people we feed are homeless, usually the chronic homeless.”

“Our goal at Timon’s is to help people not be homeless,” said Berry. “Most of the folks we see are people who are just hanging on by a thread.” Berry told of how they serve many children whose parents have been incarcerated and who are being raised by indigent grandparents who live on fixed incomes and could barely afford to feed and care for themselves, much less the grandchildren. “Those in need are welcome at Timon’s. If they don’t behave themselves,” Berry said, “they can’t be there. There may be more homeless wandering around out here, but we don’t see them because they’ve been banned.”

Berry said that Timon’s is really working to help the working poor and the disabled poor. “I don’t feel the government does enough for these people, and that’s who we’re after. We have a doctor on board who has 1700 charts; most of those people are not homeless. A few are homeless, and with them most of what we do is wound care, spider bites, and that sort of thing,” said Berry. “We’re helping the uninsured, and it keeps them out of the ER. This started in 2012. We opened the first dental clinic in 2009, the first in the Coastal Bend. We have 3400 charts for people who come in for dental care from all over the place, not just Flour Bluff.”

“We also help with things like driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and the kinds of things that get people back on the road so they can get a job. You can’t do anything without an ID; without a birth certificate, you’re dead in the water. All of this costs money,” said Berry. “We move about three tons of groceries out every month. That is increased since Hurricane Harvey since we’re helping a lot of folks with emergency food. We’re also helping with their medicines. This is not the time to be standing in water with your house down around your knees to be without your blood pressure pills. We’re glad to help folks with these things. However, if we’re going to spend a farthing on you, you must pass the drug test. We will feed you and give you groceries because there are children involved, but for anything else you have to pass what we lovingly call the ‘Whiz Quiz’.”

According to Berry, running Timon’s costs about $323,000 a year to operate, most of which comes through grant funding. Hurricane Harvey did damage to the Timon’s building, leaving them with a 30-year loan for its repair. When clients do not behave, Berry said they call the police and issue a criminal trespass. Timon’s Ministries is located at 10501 South Padre Island Drive next to Pizza Hut and is open from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. Berry can be contacted by phone at 361-937-6196 or by e-mail, timonsministries@sbcglobal.net.

Chief Mike Markle (Photo by SevenTwelve Photography)

Representatives from law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting, including Constable Mitchell Clark and Chief Mike Markle who brought several officers to answer questions. “We often receive phone calls and emails from the public asking what we’re going to do about the homeless. Unless a crime is committed, we can’t do much. Homelessness is not a crime. I understand the frustration of property owners. I’m a property owner of Flour Bluff,” said Markle.

“When crimes are committed by the homeless, we deal with those. However, homeless folks, more often than not, are victims of crimes rather than instigators of crimes,” said Markle. “We do have many homeless because they see Corpus Christi and its mild climate as a destination city. They see this and the very giving and charitable nature of the city as reasons to come here, so they get on a bus or get a ride and head down here. I doubt that Corpus Christi will ever be without homeless. It is more of an issue of co-existing and everyone maintaining qualities of life while being charitable, while being cognizant of the law, while enforcing the laws so that others aren’t impacted negatively by their presence,” continued Markle. He encouraged the residents to get in touch with Captain Lee Weber who is the district captain in charge of the Flour Bluff area. He can be contacted by phone (361) 826-4052 or email: weldonw@cctexas.com.

Chief Markle and Captain Lee Weber (Photo by SevenTwelve Photography)

“We are very much involved in homeless issues outside of just police work,” said Markle as he introduced Assistant Chief Mark Schauer, a 35-year veteran of the police department, who offered additional information about the homeless situation in Corpus Christi and Flour Bluff. “Chief Schauer has been involved in many homeless initiatives, serving on various boards and working with the Coalition for the Homeless , Metro Ministries, and Charlie’s Place. He’s also been involved in the Point-in-Time Surveys – as were many of our staff in the police department.”

“When I got this job, I had been homeless for about five months, but it’s a different kind of homelessness. You can’t paint everybody with the same brush of homelessness. Some are homeless because of domestic violence, some for drugs and emotional conditions. You have young people being kicked out of their homes. The average age of the homeless, as I learned from serving over four years on the Metro Ministries board, is sometimes nine years old. A mother with kids drives down the average age, and there are lots of mothers with kids who have no place to go,” said Shauer.

Assistant Chief Mark Schauer (Photo by SevenTwelve Photography)

“In my case, I graduated from college, worked for my dad for a year, and decided I didn’t want to live in Illinois any more. So, I got in my truck and left. I camped out of my truck on the beach, under overpasses, even the JFK Causeway, and places where I was kicked out because I didn’t know I couldn’t camp there. A week before the academy started I rented a room in a mobile home on the other side of town. That was my first place. I had money in the bank and a desire to get a job, not really the same as for many homeless.”

Schauer shared with the audience information about homelessness in Corpus Christi and Flour Bluff that he and other officers received from a two-year survey with over 400 homeless people. “We learned that a lot of the people interviewed were homeless less than a year. Many were not from here but didn’t say why they came here. A lot of them admitted to having drug and psychological problems. Some who said they didn’t have psychological problems admitted to being treated for psychological problems,” said Schauer.

“If you ask the intake officer at the city detention center, he’ll tell you that he hardly ever sees a PI (public intoxication) for alcohol any more. It’s all synthetics. It’s easy to get and extremely cheap. They can share it. They can take a blunt and make it last for days because they can get high with just a couple of hits. And, it’s deadly. If you see people leaning against a building – looking like a zombie or something – almost for sure they’re on synthetics,” said Schauer. “We think it’s a waste of time to give money to these folks, so we put up the ‘Keep the Change’ signs. We prefer that you give to the shelters, give to Timon’s, give to somebody, but don’t flat out give them cash. I think it’s the worst thing you can do.” Later in the presentation, Schauer told the audience how they could tell if synthetic use is going on in their area. “Look for the cigarillo packages like Swisher Sweets.”

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

“We also found out through the survey is that 7% – or about 28 people – said they are just satisfied being homeless. These are the ones you see all the time,” Schauer said as he described one particular barefooted man whom he sees sometimes 20 times in a day around City Hall. “He is the face of homelessness for me, but it’s not the representative face because there isn’t one. Some are mothers. Some are people who came here for jobs that they didn’t get. This is a complex issue. All we can do is enforce the law and try to keep it at bay.”

Shauer said that he worked on the aggressive panhandling ordinance that prevents people from repeatedly asking for money. “Talking to you is a First Amendment right, but they can’t continually ask you or approach you aggressively. We can stop it when they’re in the roadway, and we do that a lot. When we make an arrest for that, it’s an endless cycle. They don’t have the money to pay, and we don’t have debtors prison. You can’t hold them. We arrest them. They magistrate them and then release them. We pick them up and try to interrupt their cycle.”

Some of the homeless activity, Shauer said, takes place on private property, and the police cannot legally get back in there without the permission of the property owner. “Flour Bluff is unique in that it has large, brushy areas privately owned by oil companies and such, but without their express permission or a direct request, we can’t just go onto the property. Some of these camps are elaborate and look like Apocalypse Now. If you see them and tell us, then we can address it through the property owner,” he said.

Shauer explained that many of the people are mentally disabled or emotionally unsound, but there is not a lot of money for them. “We wish there was. We commit a lot of people who are out a few days later. There is no long-term treatment facility unless they are sent to SASH (San Antonio State Hospital),” said Shauer. “I sit on the board for Charlie’s Place, and they have what they call scholarships for the people we encounter on the streets. We have a special unit that works around City Hall and out in the Bluff around Parker Park and along Graham Road. Our bike officers offer them some of these spots at Charlie’s Place, but they don’t always take them up on it, so they end up getting arrested.”

When asked by a Citizens Council member why these people are not made to work even though they appear to be able to do so. Shauer responded by saying that some are truly disabled mentally or physically; some will but look for ways to sue the property owner; others do work at Metro Ministries and earn their keep; still others simply do not want to work. At the Rainbow House, the women are working or going through a job program, and all the kids are in school or in childcare Shauer explained.

Another member asked what can be done about them urinating or defecating in the park. “We have ordinances that address that, and they can be ticketed. We have to see it. Call us out, and we’ll come out and talk to them. Most of the time they comply with our requests.”

Shauer was asked if anyone had used drones to fly over some of the larger brush-covered areas to locate homeless camps. “No. We have to respect private rights, too. Just about everything out here (Flour Bluff) is privately owned, and we would need the permission of the property owner to do something like that,” Shauer said.

Melanie Hambrick talked about possible solutions. “Many components are necessary for a successful plan to end homelessness,” she said. “However a plan is just a plan if no action is taken. It is clearly a waste of time and effort. This is a community issue, and government can only be part of the solution.” Hambrick outlined some actions that could be taken immediately, such as locating a coordinated entry center for those in need where they will be met with a process that will maximize potential assistance in changing the homeless person’s current situation. She added that service organizations that work in tandem with the Texas Homeless Network will provide solutions and pathways for individuals to become self-sufficient. “This will also aid in our ability to collect true data on homelessness in our area,” Hambrick added.

Hambrick stated that all who are serving the homeless in some way should take a “collective impact approach” to combat homelessness. “This means that previously independent and uncoordinated programs in Flour Bluff that address the needs of the homeless should be coordinated to work toward common goals. Leadership and civic engagement should be collaborative at all levels across all sectors,” she said. The FBCC meeting ended with an appeal to the churches, businesses, and residents to take an active role in helping solve what is a daunting task for any community.

At the October 17, 2017 City Council meeting, Amy Granberry, Chairperson for the Advisory Council for Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse briefed the council on four recommendations, echoing what Hambrick presented at the Flour Bluff Citizens Council meeting the night before. Almost all council members were in favor of moving forward with two or three of the recommendations, but District 4 Councilman Greg Smith lead the charge by strongly suggesting that all four recommendations be acted upon swiftly. The four recommendations are as follows:

Coordinated entry to ensure that all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access and are quickly identified, assessed for, referred, and connected to housing and assistance based on their strengths and needs.

Parks and Recreation Homeless Workers Program, which is based on the City of Albuquerque’s “There’s a Better Way” Program. Workers will pick up trash and beautify the city and will work in conjunction with the Community Service Workers Program in the Parks and Recreation Department.

Tent City / Tiny Homes in which city could partner with businesses to build a tiny home community by providing city-owned land and CDBG funding to build bathrooms and showers where residents would be charged a reasonable rent fee.

Family Reunification Program, which is a one-time use program designed to reunite homeless with supportive family outside of Corpus Christi.

NOTE: For information on how you can help, contact Lt. Chris Hooper, Melanie Hambrick, or Shirley Thornton

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

“Don’t let anybody tell you that we’ve dodged a bullet,” said Hunter referring to Hurricane Harvey, a storm that in just 56 hours grew from a regenerated tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico into a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in the area late on August 25, 2017. “We were the first to be hit by a Category 4 hurricane, and I have never seen such togetherness and camaraderie as we experienced in our community immediately following landfall,” he told a group of about 30 people at the Flour Bluff Business Association regular monthly meeting held October 11, 2017, at Funtrackers in Flour Bluff. In attendance were council members Paulette Guajardo and Greg Smith, County Commissioner Brent Chesney, Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Thelma Rodriguez, and FBISD school board members Michael Morgan, Jennifer Welp, and Shirley Thornton.

Hunter spoke of how he fears that our area will be forgotten in a few weeks. “They’re already doing it in some ways,” Hunter said referring to the individuals and agencies who have been fundraising and providing assistance for storm victims. “Paul Simon came into the area, but not here. There was even a benefit held in Austin – for Houston.”

“Port Royal looks like a MASH unit with outdoor showers, management under a tent with computers, outdoor bathrooms. But, guess what? They’re holding a press conference at 1:30 today to give a positive plan of when they’re going to reopen. This is how the Coastal Bend and South Texas are responding. I want everyone to know who we are and how we’re setting the example for the rest of the nation,” he said referring to the multiple natural disasters occurring across the United States. Hunter went on to say that he and Brent Chesney had visited almost all of the towns in the Coastal Bend hit by Harvey. He explained that there is still a great deal of work to be done and that people showing up with tools ready to work is what is needed more than anything else.

Hunter went on to talk about the effect of the storm on local schools. “Right after the storm, Port Aransas had no school. Nobody from government was communicating to my area – again. I got on the phone to the Commissioner of Education, who did not call me back. So, I called the governor’s office, and all of a sudden I got a call from the Commissioner of Education, who has never talked with me since I’ve been in office or since he’s been in office,” he said. Hunter then related that he suggested to the commissioner that a hotline be set up so that parents could get information regarding what to do if their child’s school was closed. “He said this was a good idea, and the hotline was created,” said Hunter. (That number is 512- 463-9603.)

“Flour Bluff must be applauded. They took in Port Aransas kids. I don’t think the state realizes what you’ve done. You’ve used your local tax dollars to take care of people. You, the taxpayer residents, took the burden. For that I am grateful, and it shows what a great community you are. Gregory-Portland did it for Rockport. You need to be helped, not forgotten. So, I’m going to ring the bell more than you’ve ever heard over the next two years. I’m talking about school funding. We fund schools through property taxes, but you can’t levy a property tax if there’s no property. I get a kick out of seeing all the appraisal district vehicles out there. What are they appraising? Some people in Port Aransas received tax bills last week on houses that are no longer standing. In the next legislative session, we’re going to have to take up school funding to figure out what the real formula should be,” said Hunter. He also spoke of how illogical it is to impose the state test on districts affected by the storm. He added that he was making no headway in this area.

Hunter then talked about another hot topic for the next legislative session, mental health. He explained how it is a real concern, not just a “touchy-feely” topic. Hunter related a story about displaced children who lost everything in Harvey, including all their clothing and toys. These items were replaced through donations. “When the recent rains came, these children cried to their teachers that they needed to go home to put their new clothes and toys on the bed so that they wouldn’t lose them again,” he said. “These are feelings of families and children that the rest of the state doesn’t understand. I’ve had public officials cry in my arms because they have nothing. This affects a person’s mental health, and this is a serious issue that needs to be funded.”

Seven days after the storm, the health department called Hunter to let him know they would be spraying for mosquitoes. “They were going to spray only as far south as Refugio. I asked them if they knew who got hit first,” he said. As a result, they sprayed Nueces, San Patricio, and Aransas counties.

Hunter then spoke about the top complaints after Harvey. The first two involved FEMA and TWIA. The third was the Red Cross and their refusal to serve Ingleside. “The fourth was debris hauling, but that seems to be going since most of the haulers have contracts with FEMA. At one point the road to Port Aransas had a quarter mile long, 25-foot high pile of debris.” Hunter also explained that he personally experienced eye abrasions from irritants in the area and that asbestos fibers that are floating around could be the problem.

“If you have concerns in any of these areas, let my office know. And just know that there’s a lot of fraud and scams going around. If someone is knocking on your door asking you to sign something, think twice,” he said. Hunter had such an experience because of the Equifax security breech. He received multiple notifications that he had made a FEMA claim, which he had not. A group got his information and sent in two FEMA applications with his identifying information and address but a fake phone number and email. “What happens is that FEMA issues checks to the Green Dot Bank. Even when I got the Texas Rangers to contact FEMA, they wouldn’t talk to them. This is your tax money being sent to thieves,” he said. He explained that the Green Dot Bank is an internet fund where the money is deposited and then just disappears. He told of how these groups also get credit cards in the victims’ names and do an address switch through the U.S. Post Office. “You need to have a banker do a credit check to see if anything has been opened in your name without your knowing it,” Hunter suggested.

“The final thing is that we learn from these situations. I will be working quite a bit with the schools to make sure their protected in the next session. I am worried that we’ll have public officials from other areas of the state trying to tell us what to do, which we don’t need. We’ll have funding proposals that don’t apply well here. We’ll have new thoughts on education and curriculum that don’t apply here. We’ll have new catastrophe management concepts that don’t apply here. And I’m sure we’re going to see wind storm reform come back. So, just be ready. My plan is to protect the area,” Hunter said. He also reminded everyone that desalination would be discussed at the Ortiz Center on November 2 with an update on Hurricane Harvey to be given on November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. John Sharp of Rebuild Texas will be coming in to discuss the aftermath of the storm in Nueces, Kleberg, Aransas, and San Patricio counties.

“Don’t tell people we’re shut down,” Hunter said. “We are turning around. This negative will prove to be a positive. I’m proud of all of you and of this community. You continue to set the tone for the area, the state, and the nation. We will keep the effort moving, so contact us if you need anything.”

Other FBBA Business

Flour Fest: will be held at Parker Park on Graham Road from Noon to 8:00 p.m., on Saturday, October 28, 2017. This family-friendly event will feature live music, food trucks, Kids Zone, local vendors, safety demonstrations by ESD#2 Firefighters, and the Flour Bluff Citizens Council kid-and-dog costume contest, Fur Fest. FBBA would like to thank the Flour Fest sponsors: County Commissioners Brent Chesney and Mike Pusley, Michael Morgan of State Farm, Roshan Bhakta of Candlewood Suites, Javier Wiley of HEB, Dr. Hassan of the Children’s Center, Walmart #490, Whataburger #123, and the Flour Bluff Citizens Council.

Flour Fest Kids Zone Events:

1:00 Corn Hole Contests (candy and toy prizes)

1:30 Sack Races (candy and toy prizes)

2:00 Three-legged Races (candy and toy prizes)

3:00 Fur Fest: This event is open to kids 12 and under with dogs of any age. Prizes will go to Scariest, Cutest, Funniest, and Best Couple. Dogs must be on leashes at all times. No biters, please. Judging begins at 3:00 p.m. Prizes awarded immediately following judging.

4:00 Egg and Spoon Races (candy and toy prizes)

4:30 4-Way Tug of War

5:30 Pastry Wars (First 15 contestants to sign up in the 10 and under, 11 to 16, and 17 and up categories will compete for Walmart gift cards.)

Bounce house all day

Tire Recycling Program: The FBBA, in conjunction with Nueces County and DeGoLa Resource and Conservation Development District, will host a tire recycling program on Saturday, November 4, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to The FBBA encourages everyone to take part in this program since the city will not pick up tires during the brush and bulky item pick up.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

FBBA Board Elections: Three board members are up for re-election. They are Roshan Bhakta, Tom Hollingsworth, and Jonathan Vela. Dr. Hollingsworth will not be seeking re-election. Elections and succession planning will take place at the November general meeting. Nominations may be submitted to Jennifer Welp.

Membership Drive: If a new member joins in the last quarter of the year, the annual dues of $65.00 will include the following year.

Community Christmas: This event will take place December 8,2017, at Funtrackers. Toy boxes will be set out in November at area businesses. Let Jennifer Welp know if your business is willing to accept a box for toy donations. This is an opportunity for the businesses to give back to the community we love so much.

Next FBBA General Meeting: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at Raceway Cafe’ at Funtrackers

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

“The car was beautiful. Everything was immaculate,” said Paul Adams, who unknowingly bought a flood-damaged car in 2009, according to a CNBC report by Annie Nova. The vehicle had been damaged in Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but did not start to show its damage until later.

At the Flour Bluff town hall meeting on Monday, September 18, Melissa Castro, Corpus Christi Police Department Auto Theft Task Force Project Manager, cautioned those in attendance about buying used – and even new – vehicles after a storm like Harvey from a used car lot or an individual. In the literature she distributed at the meeting, she shared valuable tips for making “sniffing out” a seller who may try to sell you a vehicle with hidden damage.

“Cars are rolling computers these days. When water gets as high as it did with Harvey, we’re going to see significant damage,” said John Van Alst, attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

If you are shopping for a vehicle, follow these tips:

Be alert to damp or musty odors.

Check for carpet/upholstery that has been replaced or recently shampooed. Pull back the carpet at different areas and look for mud, dirt, or signs of water stains.

Look for dirt build-up especially on the underside of the dashboard. This area is hard to clean.

Inspect for rust under the vehicle. Corrosion is uncommon in new vehicles.

Look for rust, mud, dirt, or discoloration in small, out-of-the-way crevices on the doors under the hood or inside of the trunk.

Ensure electrical components, such as lighting, heater/AC fan, window motors, and more are all functioning properly.

Get a pre-purchase inspection of the used vehicle by a trusted mechanic.

Check the vehicle’s history; acquire a CARFAX Vehicle History Report. The report may reveal if the car has been in a flood or been issued a salvage title.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Other websites that offer additional valuable information are as follows:

NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU: NICB.ORG Public can type in VIN number, and the program will tell them if the vehicle is listed as stolen or is a salvage vehicle. Information is from Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) based on insurance claims and would not have the flood vehicles in which there was no insurance.

INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICE, INC.: http://www.verisk.com/insurance/brands/iso.html This is a leading source of vast amounts of information about property/casualty insurance risk. ISO is an information broker for the insurance industry to NMVTS (NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All DMVs throughout the U. S. Report to NMVTIS.

Total loss flood-damaged vehicles will be recorded in ISO, NMVTIS, and TEXAS DMV databases.

A catastrophe code is assigned to Hurricane Harvey losses. NICB will pull the total loss flood damage vehicles based upon a flag placed by TEXAS DMV along with the catastrophe code assigned to Hurricane Harvey and enter the VIN record into the NICB Vincheck.

Castro encouraged citizens to contact her office for more information or to report vehicle burglary, theft, and insurance fraud.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.